Postage-stamp and label affixer.



PATENTED SEPT. 24

W. B SPENGER. POSTAGE STAMP AND LABEL AFFIXER.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.13, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Wan mama .arns NORRIS PETERS co, wAsHmdrnN. n. c,

PATENTED SEPT. 24; 1907..

W. B. SPENCER. POSTAGE STAMP AND LABEL AFPIXER.

APILIOATION FILED 0OT.13, 1905.

f a slums-slum 2.

A? Egg cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

right position by a base.

WILLIAM B. SPENCER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POSTAGE-STAMP ANI) LABEL AFFIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed October 13,1905. Serial No. 282,641.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. SPENCER, a citizen 0 the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Postage-Stamp and Label Afiixer, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in postage stamp and label affixers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of devices for affixing postage stamps, labels and similar gummed articles to moistened surfaces, and to provide asimple, inexpensive and efiicient device of this character adapted to enable stamps and labels to be positively aflixed with a minimum amount of pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stamp and label affixer, adapted to effectually prevent stamps or labels from becoming displaced in the holder or carrier when relieved of the pressure incident to applying one of them to a moistened surface.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims, hereto appended; it being underof the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a label and stamp afiixer, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a stamp affixing device provided with means for applying it in a vertical position "to a wall or desk. Fig. 5 is a similar view, illustrating the manner of applying the stamp and label afiixer in a horizontal position to a wall or desk. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a stamp aflixing device having retaining springs formed integral with the sides of the holder or carrier. Fig. 7 is an elevation, illustrating another manner of applying springs to the holder or carrier. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a stamp afiixing device,-illustrating another form of the invention, and showing the same supported in an up- Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the holder or carrier.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a plunger rod, having a spring-actuated holder or carrier mounted on it, and having its outer or upper end 2 threaded and tapered and adapted to engage a handle 3, or a base 4, but the threaded end of the plunger rod may be embedded in a wall 5 or other suitable support, as illustrated in Fig. 5of the drawings to arrange the stamp and label affixer in a horizontal position. Also the stamp and label aflixer may be secured in an upright position by embedding the threaded end in a horizontal supporting surface. The

outer end of the plunger rod may also be provided with an arm 6, designed to have a threaded terminal 7 for enabling it to be applied to a wall, desk or other support for holding the stamp and label affixer in an upright position.

The holder or carrier in which the stamps or labels are placed, is substantially U-shaped, being composed of two parallel sides 8 and a connecting portion 9, which is preferably curved, and to Which'the inner ends of the sides 8 are secured by screws 10 or other suitable fasten-' ing devices. The sides preferably consist of plates, and they have their side edges bent at right angles to form guiding flanges 11, which retain the stamps or labels in position against horizontal displacement, and which guide the same towards the outer end of the carrier or holder. The guide flanges 11 are spaced apart to provide opposite openings, which facilitate the operation of filling the carrier or holder with stamps or labels. The stamps are retained in the holder or carrier against outward movement by means of projecting lips 12, which may be formed by bending the inward terminals of springs 13 preferably arranged in pairs at the outer facesof the sides of the holder or carrier.

The inner ends of the springs are secured to the sides of the holder or carrier by the screws or other suitable fastening devices for securing the sides to the connecting transverse portion 9. The transverse portion 9, which is preferably curved, as shown, may be constructed of wood or any other suitable material, but when constructed of wood, will be preferably thicker than when constructed of metal. It is provided with a central opening, through which the plunger rod passes, and the plunger rod is provided at its inner end with a head 14, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and which is preferably provided with a threaded opening to receive the inner threaded end 15 of the plunger rod. A coiled spring 16, which is disposed on the plunger rod is interposed between the handle 3 and the transverse connecting portion of the carrier or holder, and is adapted to throw the latter outward from the head 14 of the plunger after pressure has been applied and a stamp or label has been aflixed to a moistened surface.

In order to prevent the stamps or labels from becoming displaced, when the holder or carrier is thrown outward from the plunger by the coiled spring, a yieldable follower 17 of soft felt is arranged within the holder or carrier to fit against the innermost stamp, and it remains in engagement with the stamps or labels, and is gradually advanced with the same as the said stamps or labels are used in applying them. The felt follower irictionally engages the inner faces of the sides of the of the holder or carrier.

carrier or holder sufficiently to retain itself in proper position in engagement with the stamps, and by employing a follower of this character, the holder or carrier may be made of any desired length to hold the desired number of stamps or labels, and there will be no liability of the stamps or labels becoming accidentally displaced through the operation of the device. The felt follower which is provided with afiat outer engaging face is cut out at the center to form a central opening 18 for concentrating the pressure around the margin of a stamp or label whereby the same may be applied to a moistened surface more effectually and with less pressure than when the latter is distributed throughout the entire area of the stamp or label. When a stamp or label is caused to adhere at its edges to a moistened surface, it will remain firmly affixed to the same. Although the holder or carrier is shown rectangular in cross section in the accompanying drawings, yet it will be readily apparent that it may be made of any desired configuration to suit the shape of the label or stamp to be afiixed, and that the head of the plunger and the follower may be shaped to apply the stamps either to a flat or curved surface.

In Fig. 6 is illustrated another form of the invention, in which springs 19 are formed integral with the sides The sides of the holder or carrier are split longitudinally from their outer ends, and the terminals of the partially severed springs 19 are bent inward for retaining the stamps or labels 'within the device.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated another form of spring, the spring 20 being substantially U-shaped and secured to the exterior of the side 21 of the holder or carrier by means of tongues 22, formed integral with and struck up from the said side 21. The U-shaped spring 20 consists of two sides and an end connecting portion; .a pair of tongues embraces or engages each of the sides of the spring 20, and the inner connecting portion is engaged by a central tongue In Fig. 8 is illustrated a modification of the invention,

'in which the holder or carrier is provided at the outer The stamps or labels are placed in the holder or carrier with their gummed faces outermost, and when the device is stamped against a moistened surface, one of the stamps or labels will be affixed to the same, the adhesion between the stamp or label and the moistened surface being sufiicient to draw the former readily from the holder or carrier. The device may be conveniently used as a hand stamp, or an envelop or other article bearing the moistened surface may be applied to the device while the same is supported in a horiz'ontal or other convenient position; When the base 4 is employed, the device may be either supported in an upright position, as illustrated in Fig. 8, or it may be conveniently used as a hand stamp when desired.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a plunger having a head, a holder or carrier composed of two sides spaced apart to form side openings, and a transverse portion slidable on the plunger and connecting the inner ends of the sides, the latter being provided at the said openings with side flanges, which embrace the connecting portion and form guides for the plunger head and the stamps or labels, and a spring disposed on the plunger and engaging the transverse connecting portion.

2. A device of the class described comprising a holder or carrier for stamps or labels, a plunger having a head, a felt follower arranged against the stamps or labels and adapted to be advanced with the same by the plunger head as the stamps or labels are allixed or consumed, said iollower friction-ally engaging the sides of the holder or carrier so as to be retained in its adjusted position, whereby it is held against backward movement and is adapted to prevent displacement of the stamps or labels, when the plunger head is withdrawn therefrom.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a plunger, a spring-actuated carrier or holder slidable on the plunger, and a felt follower frietionally engaging the sides of the holder or carrier and held against backward movement by such engagement and arranged to fit against the stamps or labels and to be advanced with the same as the stamps or labels are affixed 01' consumed, said follower serving to prevent displacement of the stamps or labels when the head oft-he plunger is withdrawn there from.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a plunger, a spring-actuated holder or carrier, and a flexible follower arranged to fit against the stamps or labels and having a fiat outer face and provided with a central opening, whereby the pressure is applied to and concentrated at the marginal portions of a stamp or label.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM B. SPENCER.

Witnesses FLORENCE J. CULvnn, BENJAMIN J. Hum. 

